Clarence Iron signed a three-year contract to call NHL games in Cree. (APTN/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

First Nations

Iron signs three-year contract to call NHL games in Cree

Jan 9, 2020 | 5:08 PM

Clarence Iron has confirmed he will be calling six more NHL hockey games this season in the Plains Cree language in conjunction with Sportsnet and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

Iron, who is a member of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation and resident of Pinehouse Lake, first called a game last season on Rogers Hometown Hockey with Earl Wood of Saddle Lake, Alta. Wood will once again join Iron in calling the games, he said, and retired NHL player John Chabot will return to provide commentary and analysis. Iron said he signed a three-year deal with the broadcasters.

“People want to hear NHL play-by-play in Cree,” Iron said. “I am fortunate that I’m the one whose doing it, so I’m very grateful for that.”

In all, Iron and Wood will call one game in January, two in February and three in March, as well as a seventh just for practice. The first to be aired on APTN will be Jan. 19 when the Winnipeg Jets take on the Chicago Blackhawks. They will once again call a game between the two teams Feb. 9 and another between the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 23.

Other games to be called in Cree will be March 1, 15 and 29. While many of the details haven’t been confirmed yet, Iron expects to do the work from a specialized studio like the one used in 2019.

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“[I] will hear all the noise like I’m right in the arena, so that I don’t mind,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind being right in the arena itself, but you still feel the energy. Everything is being recorded, all the sound and everything.”

Iron also said there are a lot of people who can understand Cree, but can’t speak it themselves. He noted he’s been to different communities throughout Canada calling hockey games, adding kids will know what he’s talking about but won’t repeat what he’s saying. Iron hopes having the national exposure of the Cree language can change that.

“A lot of people wanted to hear the First Nations languages across Canada,” he said. “The Cree language is still much alive, it’s just putting it together again [and] lifting it up again, so that everybody will start speaking it.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno